Method of and apparatus for conveying water



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R.V'TM,ANNESMANN. I METHOD 0F AND A-IARATUS FOR CONVEYING WATER. No. 549,243.

Patented Nov. 5,1895.

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' y R, MANNEs-MANN.

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FORCQNVEYING WATER; No. 549,243.

Patented Nov. v511895.

BAGHAHA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REINHARD MANNESMANN, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE MANNESMANN TUBE COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

IVIETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING WATER.

SPECIFICATIOYNr forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,243, dated November 5, 1895.

Y Application filed January 19, 1895. Serial No. 535,537. (No niodel.)

To all whom t may concern/f Be it known that I, REINHARD MANNES- MANN, a citizen of Germany, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Conveying Water, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to raise water to a greater height than is possible with suction-pumps and to provide a new and improved method of and means for conveying water over hills,`mountains, and other elevations for supplying cities, towns, villages, factories, and other places with water for any desired purpose from lakes and other bodies of water which lie in such` locations that the Water cannot by ordinary contrivances be practicably utilized at distant points if it is'required to be carried over hills or mountains.

The invention also has for its object to utilize the power of water traversing a conduit or pipe-line for compressing air,which is conducted to the starting-point of the conduit or pipe-line and caused to act upon the water for propelling the same from a lake or other supply through such conduit or pipe-line.

The invention also has for its object to convey water or other liquid from the isolated places over mountains or hills 'by the power of air under pressure delivered into a conduit or pipe-line by which the water or liquid is conducted.

To accomplish these objects, my invention involves the features, the principles of operation, the order of procedure, and the mechanical contrivances or devices hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view sufficient to enable the principles of my invention to be understood by those skilled in the art. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the starting end of the conduit or pipe-line, showing the compressed-air nozzle entering the same and connected With an auxiliary air-compressor or reservoir. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional .view of a Pelton water-wheel which is employed to operate an air compressing apparatus in juxtaposition to the delivery end of the conduit or pipe-line. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.Y 1, showing a modification of the invention. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of parts hereinafter eX- plained.

I will first briefly describe the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, which is typicalv of many contrivances adapted to be employed for carrying my invention into effect.

The numeral 1 indicates an injector or other suitable mechanical device or contrivance having an expanded chamber 2 and a waterinlet 3, connected with a lake or other body of water (indicated by the numeral 4.) The injector is also provided with a contracted outlet 5, communicating with a water conduit or pipe-line 6, which is designed to be carried over a hill, mountain, or other elevation, (indicated by the numeral 7,) and then to descend, as at 8, to a deep point considerably below the level of the water in the lake or other source of water-supply.

The lower end of the descending portion 8 of the conduit or pipe-line is so arranged as to deliver water to a suitable motor 9, which as here illustrated is in the form-of a Pelton water-Wheel arranged to be rotated in a vertical plane by the power of the water issuing from the delivery end of the conduit or pipeline. The motor or water-wheel is designed to operate an air-compressing apparatus, (indicated by the numeral 10. As here indicated the air-compressing apparatus is in the form of a rotary pump having an' air-reservoir 12.

The pump is operated by a belt connection 13 with the shaft of the motor or water'- Wheel 9.

The injector above described includes as an element the air-inlet nozzle 14, which connects by a pipe-line 15 with the air-reservoir 12 of the air-compressing apparatus 10. The nozzle 14 is also designed to be connected with an air pump or a reservoir 16, containing compressed air, so that at the beginning of the operation compressed air can be admitted into the injector for starting the system in operation, after which the entire operation is automatic, as will hereinafter appear.

The tube or pipe 17, which connects the IDI) nozzle 1i with the airpump or air-reservoir or other container `16 for compressed air, is provided with a valve, as at 18, which will be closed when the desired air-pressure is obtained in the water conduit or pipe line G.

For the purpose of conducting the water over a hill, mountain, or other elevation the water at the starting-point is placed in com* munication with the conduit or water pipe line G through the medium of the injector or other suitable mechanical eontrivance and this conduit or pipe-line is carried over the highest point where the `water is tobe raised and from there is carried downward, as at 8, to the deepest point of the waterfall. The compressed air introduced at the beginning from the air pump or `reservoir 10 into the injector or other mechanical `contrivance eausesthe water from the lake or othersource of supply to traverse the conduitlor pipe-line G and to rise over the hill, mountain, or other elevation and descend through the descending portion 8 of the conduit or pipe-line. The descending` `water orliquid .issuing `fromthe delivery end of the conduit or `pipelinelacts upon the motoror water-wheel 9 for the purpose of rotatingthe same, whereby the aircompressing apparatusis operated and airis compressed in the `reservoir A12, from whence the `compressed `air is conducted bythe `pipeline 15 tothe injector-nozzle 14C. The compressed air .is mixed with the water or liquid and forces the same through .the conduit or pipe-.line G overthe mountain or hill orother elevated point. The water or liquid flows down the descending portion 8 of theiconduit `orpipe-line and .is delivered to the .motor or water-whecl- The water or liquid, .after being utilized to compress air by operating the .motor or water-wheeland` air-compressing apparatus, flows into a conduit 19from whence it `may be conducted .to any point desired 'for any purpose whatever-as for instance, for supplying a city, `town, village, factory, or other place with water for power or other purposes.

After the column of water starts the motor or water-wheel into action the operation of the` system willbe automatic and continuous, because the water or liquid iiowing down through thev descending' portion of `the conduit or pipe-line 6 continuously.actuatesithe motor or water-wheel, and the compressed air is conducted back to the startingpoint, .forthe purpose of `maintaininga continuous Amovement of 1water or liquid through-the said .c enduit or .pipe-line.

It will `:be ol'iserved'that the water moving downward to the deepest point of the waterfalloperates the vair-compressing apparatus ntocompress airand can be subsequently utilized for Apower purposes. The air-pipe 15 conducts the compressed air to thestartingpointand `maintainsa constant iiowfof water from the Vlake `or other source of supply through the water conduit or pipe lineG over the hill, mountain, or other elevation to the descending portion 8, from whence the water iiows to the motor or water-wheel 9. The water passing to the outlet-conduit ,l0 can be used for supplying' cities, towns, villages, factories, and other places with water for power or any other purpose for which it is desired to use water.

The essential feature of my invention resides in causing air under pressure to move or propel water from a water source or supply to the point desired, and, further, in utilizing the pressure or power of the descending water to-compress air which .is used to maintain a continuous movement of water in. a conduit or pipe-line.

In the modification Figs. 4 and 5 the wa ter or liquid delivered from the lower end of `the water conduit or pipeline in caused to compress air in a chamber, from which chamber compressed air is carried back tothe starting-point, as `I will now explain in detail. The lower end of the descending portion 8 of the pipe-line communicates with an airand water separating chamber 20, having at its lower .end a contracted discharge-outlet 2l, provided with suitable .means whereby the capacity of the outlet can be regulated to more or less retardthe escape of air and secure the necessary air-pressure in the airseparating chamber, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

AThe devcefor regulating the capacity of the outlet may be of `any construction suitable for the purpose required; but as here shown the outlet 21 is designed to be composed of an elastic tube havinga" suitable clamp actuated by a screw 22, `so that by tightening .up the screw it can be more or less `com )ressed'to control the iiow of water therethrough.

rlhe airfinlet nozzle 14 connects by the pipeline 15 `with the upper end of the air and water separating chamberZO, and in the said air-pipe, in `juxtaposition to the chamber 20, is arranged a checlevalve 23, having its valve seated by` a spring adapted to be adjusted to a deiinite pressure to `maintain approximately the same air-.pressure inthe air and water separating chamber. .'lhe Anozzle 1i also designed to be connected with an airpump 0r reservoir 1 6 containin g compressed. air, the same as `described with reference to Fig. 1, so thatiat the beginning of the operation compressedfair can be admitted into the injector for starting the system in operation, .ai'ter which the entire operation is automatic, as will hereinafter appear.

The compressed .air introduced `.from the air pump or reservoir 16 into the injector or othermechanieal contrivance causes the water from the lake or `other source of supply to traverse the conduit or pipe-line 6 and by itto riseover the hill, mountain, or other elevation through the descending portion S of .the conduit `or .pipe-line. The `descending water flows intoithe air and water separating chamber, and as its escape therefrom isre- IOO IIO

iiows into thev chamber 20.

tarded through the outlet l0 the water will vrise in the chamber and compress air in the top portion thereof,- which compressed air will ilow back to the injector or other mechanical contrivance at the starting-point and act in the injector to continue the movement of the water through the conduit or pipe-line G, whereupon the valve l8can be closed for the purpose of cutting out the nozzle 13 from the air chamber or reservoir or other container 17 of compressed air. The voperation of the system will now be automatic and continuous, because water iiowing down through the descending portion 8 of the conduit or pipeline constantly maintains air-pressure in the top portion of the chamber 9 and the compressed air travels back to the starting-point and maintains a continuous movement of water through the conduit or pipe-line. The water moving downward to the deepest point of the waterfall produces compressed air. The air-pipe 15 conducts the compressed air back to the starting-point and maintains a constant flow of water from the lake or other source of supply through the water conduit or pipe line 6 over the hill or mountain to the descending portion 8, from whence the water rlhe water issuing from the outlet 2]. can be used for supplying cities, towns, villages, factories, and other places with water for power purposes or for any other object that may be desired. A simple method of compressing the air is to mix the air with the water as the latter descends through the descending portion of the water-conduit or pipe-line, whereby the air is compressed by the motion of the water. The air passing out from the chamber 9 through a relatively narrow or contracted point prevents air from passing back upward from this point, and therefore a certain pressure of airis maintained in the upper portion of the chamber 20, which forces the water to the contracted-or narrow outlet 2l. The compressed air, owing to its less speciiic weight, separates itself from the water in the chamber 20, and the separated compressed air flows back through the air-pipe line l5 to the injector or other contrivance for the purpose of forcing water through the water conduit or pipe line.

According to the depth which the Water descends after passing over the hill, mountain, or elevation, the compression of air in the upper portion of the chamber 2O is more or less increased or decreased; but the pressure in chamber 2O is maintained at a regular pressure through the medium of the checkvalve 23, which permits the air after it reaches a certain pressure to constantly iiow back to the injector or other mechanical contrivance. As before stated, the air-pipe l5 extends from the upper part of the chamber 20 back to the starting-point, and therefore conveys the compressed air from the top portion of the chamber 20 back over the hill, mountain, or other elevation to the starting-point of the water, where such air is mixed with fresh water and the latter caused to move throughv the water conduit or pipe line to the point where it is to be utilized for power or other purposes.

The compressed air introduced into the water at the starting-point and moving with the water over the hill, mountain, or other elevation diminishes the specific weight of the water column, and thereby renders it possible to materially diminish the thickness of the shells of the pipes in the horizontal and ascending portions thereof. By this means the weight of the pipe-line and the expense of manufacturing the same are materially reduced. The mixing of compressed air with water for moving the latter enables great speed or velocity of the water to be attained in the pipes, thereby rendering it possible to materially diminish the diameter of the pipes for a given amount of water, chiefly because the friction is reduced. ByV rendering it possible to reduce the diameter of the pipes largely reduced.

After the automatic operation of the system commences, as hereinbefore explained, the compressed air makes a continuous circuit through the water conduit or pipe line to the chamber 20 and back to the water conduit or pipe line at the starting-point, and to a great extent the same compressed air is used over and over again; but, if necessary, a small quantity of atmospheric air can be added to compensate for the air dissolved by the water or escaping from the chamber 2O by not being entirely separated from the water. The atmospheric air referred to can be introduced through the medium of an airpipe 24, having any suitable automatic valve. If the separation of the air and water is perfect and the pipes are air-tight, it will not, under ordinary conditions, be necessary to admit atmospheric air as above stated, and practically the same air makes the circuit over and over again, such air acting as a water carrier or conveyer from the startingpoint over the hill, mountain, or elevation to the deepest point of the waterfall. At the same time the compressed air diminishes the specific weight-of the uphill water column and forces this column over the hill, mountain, or elevation.

The check-valve 23 allows the air to escape from chamber 2O only when such air possesses the required pressure, thereby maintaining in the air-chamber an approximately uniform air-pressure.

I may substitute an open ditch or other water-way for any horizontal portion of the water conduit or pipe line. This open ditch or water-way will extend a certain distance horizontally and then deliver the water into a pipe, which may conduct it to another approximately horizontal open ditch or water-way.

In the modification Fig. et I propose to the expense of introducing the system is= IOO IIO

permit the compressed air to escape-say at a point cli-and cause the descending column of Water to dra-W in air-say at the point bso that such air thus drawn in can be compressed in the chamber 2O and be carried back to the injector for use in moving the Water through the horizontal and ascending portions of the Water conduit or pipe line. The plan which I prefer, however, is that substantially illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

I do not `Wish tobe understood as confining myself to any particular arrangement of parts for carrying my invention into effect, as the apparatus or mechanical contrivances can be variously modiiied Without altering the spirit of the invention.

As shoivn, the pipe-line 15 for carrying the air `to `the starting-point isreducedin diameter and the air is allowed togo at a high speed, in order to reduce the cost of the airpipe line.

It is advisable to provide means introducing the relatively high compressed air `into the Water to be moved uphill in a Way that utilizes the energy of the compressed air in expanding. This may be accomplished by the `injector shown.

In Fig. 1 I have 'illustrated an auxiliary air pump or reservoir 16 for the purpose of introducing compressed air. at the beginning of the operation 3 but obviously this air pump or reservoir can be omitted and the air-compressing apparatus 10 operatod in any suitable manner to start the system into operation, after which the action is automatic, as will be clearly understood from the foregoing explanations.

Vhat I claim as my invention is-- 1. The method herein described, of conveying liquid from a source or supply overa hill or mountain to a distant point or station, Which consists in causing air under pressure to raise a column of liquid over the hill or mountain, utilizin g the power of the descending liquid to compress air, and conveying such compressed air to the starting point and causing it to continue the movement of the liquid over the hill or mountain, substantially as set forth.

2. The method herein described, of conveying liquid from a source or supply over a hill or mountain to a distant point or station, which consists in causing air under pressure to raise a column of liquid over the hill or mountain, utilizing the power or pressure ot' the descending liquid to compress air, conducting the descending liquid to a point for power, or other purpose, and conveying the compressed air to the starting point, and causing it to continue the movement of the liquid over the hill or mountain, substantially as set forth.

3. The method herein described, of conveying liquidfrom a source or supply to a distant point or station, `which consists in causing a column of liquid descending through a conduit to compress atmospheric air, conducting a part or all of such air to the starting point of the conduit, and causing the compressed air to move the liquid thereth rough, substantially as set forth.

1. The combination in'a Water conveying system, of a liquid or Water conduit following an ascending and descending course, a

device communicating with a source or supply, and connected with the said conduit,

means for compressing air by the action of the descending column of liquid or Water, and an air pipe line-for conveying the compressed air to the device for continuing the movement of the liquid or Water through the ascending part of said conduit, substantially as set `forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

REINHARD MANNESMANN.

NVitnesses:

EMIL Kirrnn, II. SCHOMBURG. 

